Work carriage



Aug. 6, 19%. c. K. LAMB WORK CARRIAGE Filed Feb. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet1 I LI Y a Q a M l 2 j o v o a 2 5 a z z Aug. W46. 0. K. LAMB 4 WORKCARRIAGE Filed Feb. 22,1945

2 Sheet s 2 INVENTOR. C 0E Af LAMB TnRIVEy Patented Aug. 6, 1946 I WORKCARRIAGE Clyde K. Lamb, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor, by direct and mesneassignments, to

Airways Lighting Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of OhioApplication February 22, 1945, Serial No. 579,291 8- Claims. (01.304-13) My invention relates to structures adapted for conveying workmenabout a circular work object. It involves particularly the provision ofa carriage for carrying workmen circumferentially about chimneys orstacks.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved carriage of the typementioned which will be adapted to carry workmen circumferentially aboutsuch chimneys or stacks at a substantial height above the ground wherebythe workmen may be enabled to repair the work structure or serviceequipment carried thereby.

Obstruction lighting devices visible from both I the ground and from theair, useful in warning approaching aircraft of the presence of suchobstruction as the stack or chimney structures, may be certain of suchequipment.

Anrexample of such obstruction lightingdevice is that shown in myco-pending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No.579,292, filed February 22, 1945, and I contemplate the use of mypresent invention in connection with the structures therein shown,described and claimed.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved carriage of.thetype described which will combine a carriage for the workmen toenable them .to work at different positions about the v chimney or thestack, circumferentially thereof,

and will also provide a secure staging from which they may work.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved carriage forconveying workmen about the circular work which will combine a means forconveying the workmen about the work with a guard for such workmen whileengaged in their Work.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved carriageadapted to be securely affixed to the circular work object and to blocked thereto when the device is not in operative use.

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will become moreapparent by reference to the following description of embodiments of myinvention and to the drawings thereof, in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partially in section, of

the improved carriage of my invention as applied.

to a circular stack carrying obstruction lighting; Fig. 2.1 a sideelevational view of the en1bodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of thecircular stack and of theobstruction lighting structure and the improved carriage of myinvention;

Fig. 4 is a side plan View of thecircular stackiof Fig. 3showingthecarriage in its locked position adjacent the chimney;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the improved carriage of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a View taken from the line 66 of Fig. 2;

"Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the catch of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view taken from the line i-'8 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view taken from th line 9-8 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, in all of which like parts are designatedby like reference characters, at l I indicate the stack or chimneystructure to which the improved carriage 2 of my invention' is secured,as later described, and about. which it is movable.

At A, B and C, I indicate th obstruction light ing structures of myaforementioned co-p-ending' application which may or may not be disposedat spaced positions about the stack. It is to be un derstood that theprovision of such lighting equipment is optional and for the purposes ofthe present application, the improved carriage of my invention is shownin connection with such equipment although other equipment might besubstituted therefor or the carriage used for other purposes, asrepairing the stack or chimney.

Both the lighting structure and the carriage are secured to thecylindrical work structur by means of circular bands 3 and 4 adapted tobe telescoped about the entire circumference of the stack or chimney.

Each of the metallic bands 3 and 4 are preferably composed of aplurality of similar metal bands secured together by couplings which arebolted together to tightly secure the bands to the chimney or stackstructure and to secure the light-carrying devices A, B and C thereto.

The obstruction lighting devices, as are more fully described, set forthand claimed in my copending application to which I have referred,preferably are three in number and are disposed at spaced intervalsabout the stack or chimney structure. Each device A, B and C,respectively, comprises a staff or stem portion 28, a curved overheadloop portion 22 and a'rectangular cross piece 24, said cross piececarrying a pair of lamps 25-25 adapted to be disposed outwardly from thestack or chimney and functioning as described in the said application towarn approaching aircraft of the obstruction to which they are secured.

An air conduit and electrical cable are provided to furnish electricityto the lamps and air to clean th'esame'. g

the first section thereof terminating, as is best shown in Fig. 4herein, a short distance below the circular band 4, and the secondladder section initiating a, short distance above the circular band 3disposed about the stack and terminatin at the top of said stack.

may be snapped thereover to hold the carriage in locked engagement withthe stack.

In the form of my invention, herein illustrated and described, the catchis preferably secured to a lower portion of the staff adjacent theobstruction lighting device A and the ladder. Hence, when a workmanascends the chimney on the ladder section 9A, he enters the carriage,which is locked to the chimney structure, through the opening providedby the lifted position of the platform section 16, stepping from theladder rung to section 15 of the platform. By releasing the catch 18, hedrops section 16 of the platform and an entire platform is thus providedfor his use when working upon the chimney of any obstruction lightingfixtures mounted thereon or for whatever purpose he employs thecarriage.

The improved carriage 2 of the present invention is adapted to passaround the chimney riding upon a track 56 spaced outwardly-from saidstack and secured thereto by means of an S-shaped bracket 5 l secured tothe band 3 andbolted to the chimney structure.

The cage 2 preferably comprises a pair of U- shaped bracket members, oneforming the upper cuff 60 for said carriage and the other forming thebase portion 6| thereof. A plurality of uprights 62, 63, 64 and 65 areemployed to join the cuff and base portions together and are welded orotherwise secured thereto, thus forming a U- shaped frame for thecarriage. A metal screen v66, mesh covering, r other preferred coveringmaterial, is preferably disposed about the uprights, being secured tothe end uprights 62 and 63 and disposed about the outer corner uprights64 and 65. The uprights 62 and 63 are disposed rearwardly of the freeends 66C60A and BIA and BIB of the U-shaped brackets 60 and BI,respectively, and said free ends are thus adapted to support wheelcarrying brackets 66-66 and 6?, respectively. The wheel carryingbrackets 66-456 are either bolted to the bracket 60 or bolted to arectangular plate, loosely journalled to the bracket 60. The brackets6666 each carry the wheel axle 69 upon ends of which an H-shaped wheelis adapted to turn.

The said wheels 16-40 are adapted to ride upon the track 50, as bestshown in Fi 2, about the stack and the wheels 1|, disposed within thebracket 61 and :the U-shaped bracket 6!, rotate about their axles 12 atright angles to the direction of rotation of the wheels 10, bearingagainst the band 4 to exert a counter force to that exerted by theweight and the direction of movement of the carriage.

A pair of depending J-shaped arms 13-13 are further secured to theoppositely disposed ends 66A and 60B of the upper cuff portion of thecarriage frame and provided with hooked end portions 'I4'|4 adapted tohook over the brackets 14- -14 to securely maintain the wheels Ill-l0upon the track.

The platform for the carriage is preferably formed in two sections andthe rearmost of such platform sections 15 is rigidly secured to thebracket 6|, as by welding. The foremost of such platform sections 16rests upon the horizontally disposed portions of the bracket member 6|and is pivotally journalled upon a; rod l1 disposed between theoppositely rdisposedfree ends of the bracket B l and secured thereto;The pivoted section 16 may thus be raised to the dotted line positionshown in Fig. 2 and. the spring catch 18 T0 enable the workman to ascendto the top of the chimney or stack, a U-shaped reinforcing element 19,disposed medially of the carriage and secured thereto in spaced relationto said upper cuff and lowe base portions of the carriage, is providedwith a pair of steps tillformed by bending the ends of such element, asbest shown in Fig. 5. y

In operation, when employing the carriage as a means of transportationabout the chimney, the workman will cause such carriage to be moved inthe desired direction by pulling the same by means of a hand-over-handaction on the conduit 26. It is to be noted that the portions '22disposed above the carriage at spaced positions about the chimney are ofsuch height with relation to the carriage that the workman may remain instanding position while traveling to and working adjacent thereto. Also,the back and side frame portions of the carriage act as a protection tosuch workman during his work on the chimney or in servicing theequipment as well as when he is being transported about the circularstack.

Although I have described the obstruction lighting devices of my saidco-pending applications in connection with the carriage provided by mypresent invention, I am aware that the present invention might beutilized as a means of transporting workmen about a cylindrical work orto and from various positions about a structure, and I am aware thatnumerous and extensive departures may be made from the embodimentsherein described and shown, without, however, departing from the spiritof my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A movable carriage adapted for movement about a work structure withwhich it is associated, said work structure having a track mountedthereon, and said carriage having wheel means adapted to ride upon saidtrack and wheel means spaced therefrom and disposed at right anglesthereto, and bearing against said work structure whereby the saidcarriage is retained upon said track, said carriage including aplatform, a back and side rail member, and locking means whereby thecarriage may be locked to said work structure.

2. A movable carriage adapted for circumferential movement about acylindrical work structure with which it is associated, said workstructure having a track mounted thereon and disposed about the outerperiphery of said cylindrical work structure, and said carriage havingwheel means adapted to. ride upon said track and wheel means spacedtherefrom and disposed at right angles thereto; andbearing against saidwork structure whereby the said carriage is retained upon said track,said carriage including a platform, a back and side rail member, andlocking means whereby the carriage may be locked to said work structure.

3. A movable carriage adapted for circumferential longitudinal movementabout a cylindrical vertically disposed work structure, said workstructure having a pair of spaced cylindrical bands disposedlongitudinally around the same and secured thereto, a track secured tothe uppermost cylindrical band spaced outwardly from said workstructure, the carriage comprising a pair of spaced U-shaped framemembers, a plurality of uprights joining said frame members, theuppermost said U-shaped frame members carrying wheel means adapted toride upon the aforesaid track, and the lowermost of said U-shapedmembers carrying wheel means adapted to bear against the lowermostcylindrical band telescoped about the cylindrical work surface wherebysaid carriage is adapted to move around said cylindrical work surface.

4. A movable carriage adapted for circumferential longitudinal movementabout a cylindrical vertically disposed work structure, said workstructure having a pair of spaced cylindrical bands disposedlongitudinally around the same and secured thereto, a track secured tothe uppermost cylindrical band spaced outwardly from said workstructure, the carriage comprising a pair of spaced U-shaped framemembers, a plurality of uprights joining said frame members, theuppermost said U-shaped frame members carrying wheel means adapted toride upon the aforesaid track, and the lowermost of said U- shapedmembers carrying wheel means adapted to bear against the lowermostcylindrical band telescoped about the cylindrical work surface wherebysaid carriage is adapted to move around said cylindrical work surface, aplurality of staff members adapted to be secured to said cylindricalwork surface by said bands and adapted to have a portion spaced upwardlya considerable distance above said track and carrying an obstructionlighting structure, said carriage adapted to pass under said obstructionlighting structure.

5. A movable carriage adapted for longitudinal movement about acylindrical vertically disposed work structure, said work structurehaving a pair of spaced cylindrical bands disposed longitudinally'aroundthe same and secured thereto, a track secured to the uppermostcylindrical band spaced outwardly from said work structure, the carriagecomprising a .pair of spaced U-shaped frame members, a plurality ofuprights joining said frame members, the uppermost said U-shaped framemembers carrying wheel means adapted to ride upon the aforesaid track, aJ-shaped hook carried by said upper frame member and disposed beneathsaid track to maintain the said wheel means in riding contact with saidtrack, and the lowermost of said U-shaped members carrying wheel meansadapted to bear against the lowermost cylindrical band telescoped aboutthe cylindrical work surface whereby said carriage is adapted to movearound said cylindrical work surface.

6. A movable carriage adapted for circumferential longitudinal movementabout a cylindrical vertically disposed work structure, said workstructure having a pair of spaced cylindrical bands disposedlongitudinally around the same and secured thereto, a track secured tothe uppermost cylindrical band spaced outwardly from said workstructure, the carriage comprising a pair of spaced U-shaped framemembers, a plurality of uprights joining said frame members, theuppermost said U-shaped frame members carrying wheel means adapted toride upon the aforesaid track, and the lowermost of said U- shapedmembers carrying wheel means adapted to bear against the lowermostcylindrical band telescoped about the cylindrical work surface, saidsecond wheel means being disposed at right angles to the direction ofrotation of the Wheel means carried by the uppermost member whereby saidcarriage is adapted to move around said cylindrical work surface.

7. A movable carriage adapted for longitudinal movement about acylindrical vertically disposed work structure, said work structurehaving a pair of spaced cylindrical bands disposed longitudinally aroundthe same and secured thereto, a track secured to the uppermostcylindrical band spaced outwardly from said work structure, the carriagecomprising a pair of spaced U-shaped frame members, a plurality ofuprights joining said frame members, the uppermost said U-shaped framemembers carrying wheel means adapted to ride upon the aforesaid track,and the lowermost of said U-shaped members carrying wheel means adaptedto bear against the lowermost cylindrical band telescoped about thecylindrical work surface whereby said carriage is adapted to move aroundsaid cylindrical work surface, a plurality of staff" members adapted tobe secured to said cylindrical work surface by said bands and adapted tohave a portion spaced upwardly a considerable distance above said trackand carrying an obstruction lighting structure, said carriage adapted topass under said obstruction lighting structure, a platform consisting ofat least two sections carried by the lowermost frame member, saidplatform having a section thereof in hinging engagement with the framemember whereby said section of the platform may be displaced from theremainder of the platform and adapted to be engaged with locking meanssecured to said staff member.

8. A movable carriage adapted for longitudinal movement about acylindrical vertically disposed work structure, said work structurehaving a pair of spaced cylindrical bands disposed longitudinally aroundthe same and secured thereto, a track secured to the uppermostcylindrical band spaced outwardly from said work structure, the carriagecomprising a pair of spaced U-shaped frame members, a plurality ofuprights joining said frame members, a reinforcing element disposedmedially of said carriage between the upper and lower frame membersthereof and adapted to be secured to said uprights, said reinforcingelement being U-shaped and the ends thereof being formed into stepmembers, the uppermost said U-shaped frame members carrying wheel meansadapted to ride upon the aforesaid track, and the lowermost of saidU-shaped members carrying wheel means adapted to bear against thelowermost cylindrical band telescoped about the cylindrical work surfacewhereby said carriage is adapted to move around said cylindrical worksurface.

CLYDE K. LAMB.

